Rep. Avram Patt

Maddy summaryThis bill officially recognizes March 2023 as Social Work Month in Vermont to honor the contributions of social workers to improving human well-being and addressing social issues. The resolution highlights the profession's role in various settings including schools, hospitals, and government agencies, as well as its work supporting diverse communities and addressing challenges like the opioid crisis. It marks the 60th anniversary of Social Work Month and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the National Association of Social Workers Vermont Chapter.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring Marshall Webb, a nonprofit cofounder and environmental advocate who passed away in 2022. It recognizes his contributions to Shelburne Farms, a Vermont center for sustainability education, and acknowledges his personal connection to the organization and the state. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to Webb's family and Shelburne Farms as a formal expression of appreciation. This measure does not change laws or policies but serves to publicly acknowledge Webb's legacy and impact on the community.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont joint resolution urges the U.S. Congress to admit Washington, DC, as a state in the Union. The measure addresses the District's lack of full voting representation in Congress, noting that while DC residents pay federal taxes and can vote in presidential elections, they currently have no voting members in the House or Senate. The resolution supports granting DC statehood to resolve this representation issue and calls for sending the document to federal officials and committees. It does not change any laws or policies directly but serves as a formal expression of support for statehood legislation already introduced in Congress.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes creating the Community Media Public Benefit Fund to help cover operational costs for Vermont's 24 access management organizations. The fund would be financed through an annual charge on communications service providers for using utility poles. The legislation establishes a new revenue stream specifically designated to support these organizations without changing existing operational requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State of Vermont to develop a comprehensive plan for transitioning to a regenerative economy by 2026, which aims to repair and restore natural and human resources rather than simply reducing harm. The legislation mandates that the state be divided into 11 regions, each forming a People's Assembly to create local plans through broad public engagement involving community members, businesses, and organizations. These regional plans must address specific goals including regenerative agriculture, food justice, waste reduction, renewable energy, and racial equity while guiding state investments and policy decisions. The bill establishes a long-term target of achieving 90 percent of a regenerative economy by December 31, 2046, and requires all state funding streams to align with the resulting roadmap.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Secretary of Natural Resources to evaluate whether the state can support an expanded polystyrene foam densifier facility for recycling waste Styrofoam. The assessment must include cost estimates, location recommendations, and details on how businesses and waste haulers would access the facility. By January 15, 2024, the Secretary must submit a report to legislative committees with findings on whether to build the densifier and whether to ban landfill disposal of EPS foam if the facility is approved. The law takes effect on July 1, 2023, and requires coordination with waste management entities and businesses that generate EPS foam waste.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to raise Vermont's minimum wage to $19.45 per hour starting July 1, 2023, and removes several exemptions that currently allow certain workers, such as taxi drivers and outside salespeople, to be paid less than the standard minimum wage. It also establishes a grant program for small businesses with 20 or fewer employees to offset payroll costs resulting from the wage increase, requiring applicants to demonstrate that their business revenue would decline due to the higher wages. Additionally, the legislation directs the Joint Fiscal Office to conduct a study comparing Vermont's wage policies to those of countries with high minimum wages and high standards of living, with the goal of identifying successful practices that could be adopted in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to decriminalize the possession of a personal supply of regulated drugs in Vermont, changing penalties from criminal charges to a civil offense with a $50 fee. The legislation would establish a Drug Use Standards Advisory Board to set benchmarks for what constitutes a personal use supply and allow individuals with prior possession convictions to have their criminal records sealed if their amounts fall below these benchmarks. It also authorizes pilot drug-checking programs that let individuals test substances for chemical composition and contaminants to reduce overdose risks. The bill aims to shift Vermont's approach from criminal prosecution to public health strategies, redirecting resources toward prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to create a pilot program offering financial assistance to farmers who adopt year-round agricultural practices across different regions of the state. It requires the Secretary of Agriculture to develop specific standards and criteria for what qualifies as year-round agriculture and allocates funding to support the program's implementation. The legislation affects farmers and agricultural agencies by establishing a formal mechanism to encourage continuous farming activities throughout all seasons.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands workers' compensation benefits for Vermont firefighters who develop specific types of cancer. It creates a legal presumption that these cancers resulted from job-related exposures if the firefighter had clean cancer screening results before or within two years of starting their career, has at least five years of firefighting service in Vermont, is under 65 years old, and does not have a history of tobacco use within 10 years of diagnosis. The law covers leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and cancers of the bladder, brain, colon, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, liver, pancreas, skin, or testicles, and applies to firefighters diagnosed within 10 years of their last active duty. The bill also recommends that fire departments keep incident reports for at least 10 years to support these claims.